Drain platform for washing machines



April 2-8, 1942.

W. J. FRANCEY- DRAIN PLATFORM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed March 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l ISnoentor (Ittornegs April 28, 1942. v w. J. FRANCEY 2,281,031

DRAIN PLATFORM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed March 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3W5 W r 1 3nventor attorneys Patented Apr. 28, 1942 DRAIN PLATFORM FOR WASHING MACHINE William John'Francey, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to United States Hoffman Machinery Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application March 15, 1940, Serial No. 324,170

6 Claims.

This invention relates to washing machines, and particularly to washing machines of the cylinder type used in the dry cleaning industry to treat fabrics with a volatile solvent.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a draining shelf which may be temporarilyinserted in the washer drum over the fabrics, after which the drum is rotated approximately 180 so that the drain board underlies the fabrics and sustains them at a level above the surface of the volatile solvent in the washing machine. This permits the solvent to drain away and relieves the operator of the necessity, heretofore encountered, of either completely draining the solvent from the washing machine, or else periodically immersing his hands in the solvent.

The invention contemplates a collapsible platform so arranged that it may. be sustained by the cylinder walls or by certain ribs or tumbler bars forming part of the washing cylinder. Particular details of the washing machine are not necessarily controlling, and the invention will be described as used with a washing machine of the open ended cylinder type, which in its broader aspect is the invention of another and is not herein claimed for that reason.

The preferred embodiment of the invention as so. used will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a washing machine, with the casing partly broken away to show the cylinder, said cylinder being shown partially in section.

Fig. 2 is a View, chiefly in section, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic section showing the position assumed by the drain platform when initially inserted.

Fig. 4 is a similar View, showing the position assumed during the draining operation after the cylinder has been rotated approximately 180.

Fig. 5 is a face view of the platform.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the platform rolled for insertion or removal. In this view, the platform is shown sectioned on a plane intermediate its ends, for the purpose of illustrating the construction.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the general construction of a washing machine with which the invention may be used, will firstbe described.

ll represents the main casing or housing of the washing machine. 12 represents a semicylindrical partition extending across the casing and used to confine a body of cleaning fluid (volatile solvent) whose upper level is indicated at l3. On the back of the housing H is mounted a bearing sleeve M in which is journaled a shaft I5, which overhangs the bearing Within the housing ll and is there provided with a spider comprising radial arms It, to which is attached a flanged disc I? forming the rear circular face of the washing cylinder.

The peripheral surface of the washing cylinder is made up of three perforated cylindrical sheets l8, each of which adjacent one end is bent to form a reentrant angle affording a rib or flight ISl within the cylinder. This flight i9 is perforated as is the periphery of the cylinder. The front side of the cylinder is closed by an annular flanged plate 2|, which is concentric with an access opening in the front of the casing II.

This access opening is surrounded and defined by a flanged ring 22 which is Wholly above the level l3 of the liquid and which overlaps the flange on the ring 22 but is not in contact with the same. In this Way, a guard is provided so that fabrics may be inserted into the cylinder without danger of their escaping from the cylinder.

The access opening is closed by a door 23 which is mounted on a hinged yoke 23, the yoke being held in door-closing position by any suitable means (not here shown in detail). The cylinder is rotated from a drive shaft '25 through a-pulley 2d, belt 21, pulley 28, worm 29, and worm wheel 31, the worm wheel being fixed on the outer end of the shaft IS. The housing Hi, above described, encloses the worm and may retain a lubricant bath for the worm and wheel. Thus, the washing machine comprises a drum which may be rotated at moderate speed. The drum dips into the bath of solvent, and the flights i9 operate to lift and drop the fabrics which are inserted in the drum for treatment.

Referring to Figs. 5 to 8, the collapsible platform, which is not inserted in the drum until the cleaning operation is complete, comprises two plies 32 of fabric, such as heavy canvas, which are stitched to form pockets for longitudinal slats 33, the lines of stitches being indicated at 34, and also stitched across the ends as indicated at 35 to retain the slats in the pockets. In order to permit drainage, rows of tubular rivets 36 are inserted through the two plies of fabric between pairs of slats. This produces a device which is rigid against flexure on lines ly equal to and preferably not greater than the axial dimension of the drum.

After the Washing operation is complete, the

rotation of the drum is stopped and the door 2315,

opened. The collapsible platform is rolled up, as indicated in Fig. 8, and. inserted through the door. At this time, the fabrics in the washing machine drum occupy the position indicated at D in Fig. 3. After insertion through the door into a the drum, the platform is unrolled and laid over the fabrics.

The general position of the platform is shown in Fig. 3, in which the edge view of the platform as a whole is indicated by the reference letter E.

The shaft is then driven until the drum has been rotated approximately 180, the precise angle through which the drum is turned being dependent upon the position in which the drum stopped prior to the insertion of the platform. The effort is, however, to cause the drum to assume the position shown in Fig. 4, in which the fabrics rest on the platform E and the platform E is approximately horizontal and rests at its ends on two of the flights l9. permit the volatile solvent to drain away. In some cases, it may be desirable to close the door 23 and allow time for drainage to occur, but this is a matter of manipulation to be determined according to the particular fabrics being treated and th particular solvent being used.

After the fabrics have drained comparatively free of solvent, they may be removed through the doorway, whereupon the platform is rolled upplunging of the hands into the solvent is considered to be injurious to the operator.

While one type of washing machine has been described in some detail, this is intended merely for purposes of illustration and it should be understood that the collapsible platform may be used with various types of cylinder. It is particularly desirable where the loading opening, wherever located, is too small to receive a rigid one-piece platform. The platform is necessarily dimensioned with regard to the form and dimensions of the washing cylinder.

While the preferred embodiment has been described in considerable detail, this should be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

The effect i to 1. The combination of a washing machine,

through which fabrics to be treated are inserted and removed; and a drain platform of approximately rectangular form, said platform including means for collapsing the same in one transverse direction to permit its insertion through said port, and in the other transverse direction being rigid and so dimensioned as to be sustained at its ends by portions of said drum in chordal relation to the drum, whereby the platform may be inserted above the fabrics and then be transposed to a sustaining position beneath the fabrics and above the bottom of the drum as an incident to the partial rotation of the drum.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, in which said draining platform comprises a member substantially rigid in one transverse direction and flexible in a direction thereto, whereby the platform-may be bent or curled upon itself to permit insertion through said port.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, in which said draining platform is constructed of a woven fabric with spaced stiffeners extending in one direction, whereby the platform may be rolled to permit insertion through said port and the positioning of the stiffeners in a direction chordal to the cylinder.

4. The'combination with a'washing machine of the cylinder type in which the lower portion of the cylinder dips into a bath of cleaning fluid, of a removable unitary partition rigid in one direction and flexible in a direction transverse thereto, said partition being insertable in a rolled or flexed condition into said cylinder above the fabrics being treated therein when the cylinder is at rest, said partition being perforate and being so sustained by engagement with the cylinder as to support said fabrics above the level of liquid in the machine when the cylinder is rotated and stopped approximately from the position of insertion.

5. The combination of a washing machine, comprising a cylinder mounted to rotate on a substantially horizontal axis and to dip into a bath of cleaning fluid, said cylinder having a port through which fabrics to be treated are inserted and removed, and said cylinder further being provided with a series of internal flights around its periphery and approximately parallel with its axis; and a draining platform flexible in one direction and rigid in a direction at right angles thereto, said platform being insertable through said port when the platform is flexed, the platform being dimensioned to be sustained at its ends by certain of said flights in chordal relation to the drum, whereby the platform may be inserted above the fabrics and then be transposed to a sustaining position beneath the fabrics as an incident to the partial rotation of the drum.

6. A draining partition for use in and removable bodily from the cylinder of a horizontal cylinder washing machine of the type in which the cylinder dip into a bath of washing fluid, said partition comprising a plurality of parallel slats whose length is slightly less than the internal diameter of the cylinder and a connecting Web of reticulated fabric connected with said slats, the dimension of said web in adirection transverse to said slats approximating the internal axial dimension of the cylinder, the material of the web being such and the part being so arranged that the platform may be rolled for insertion into with its slats in a chordal relation to the cylinder I above the fabrics treated therein.

WILLIAM JOHN FRANCEY. 

